S01 E07 - Second Downtime in Phandalin

Synopsis
It's another downtime for our Dames; Nevar Moor parties hard, Riot Bonezerker channels Rose Lao and Rose meets the Alderleafs and gets a clothing commission.

The Awoken Giant
Nevar Moor starts her downtime in Phandalin by sharing her review of the Sleeping Giant's beer selection around town and successfully draws new patrons into the tavern. When the Dames arrive in the tavern, Davver Banik is selling his glue tin free bread that he calls chets. Nevar makes the tasty suggestions of adding cheese to his chets and the Dames order a round. As they find a seat, they're asked for an autograph and Nevar obliges with a flourish.

Now that they have a moment to talk, Nevar expands upon the dream she had and how it seemed to foretell the events of the Crooked Forest. The Dames are catching up when Riot Bonezerker notices an elven woman with red hair, freckles, and beautiful emerald eyes enter the Sleeping Giant. The woman is interested in a particular piece of memorabilia on the wall—a piece of paper in Volo's handwriting that says:"A hag always has some potion or amulet that puts the odds in her favor. If you're lucky, she only wants to make you miserable instead of just killing you."Riot approaches the woman and learns her name is Delsy. They discuss the memorabilia and what the Sleeping Giant has to offer. As their conversation ends, Sildar Hallwinter enters.

Sildar joins the Dames at their table and slyly offers them payment for saving Winter Hallwinter. The Dames give him tips on how to give Winter some space to grow and introduce her to adventuring in a safe way. He specifically mentions how Winter seems to look up to Nevar. In addition to Sildar's appreciation, the Dames also distribute their findings from the gnolls. Rose Lao takes the bolts of material, Quoth swipes the gold ring, and the rest of the loot is shared amongst the party.

In the Name of Silvanus
Riot Bonezerker travels through Halfway to get to the Crooked Forest. She stops by Lyta Rollings's tavern on her way through and they talk briefly before Riot enters the forest. The pathway has changed again but Riot has instructions from Tinus Redbud about how to reach the blueleaf grove. She eventually comes upon an area of trees with leaves that have a blue tinge to them. In front of her is a large fallen blueleaf treant and she thinks back to Bud's description of how to harvest the wood; Riot will need to do it in the name of Silvanus and be in tune with Tavernière. When Riot opens her eyes, there's a piece of blueleaf wood in her hands.

Riot returns to Phandalin and has a woodworker turn her blueleaf branch into a bow. Then she heads to the Alderleaf Farm and catches up with Carp Alderleaf. She regales him with the tale of their previous adventure with the gnolls after checking in on her helmthorn. He promptly passes out after Riot shows him the wound she received from a gnoll's arrow.

Things Come in Threes
Rose Lao heads off to Barthen's Provisions to get supplies. When she arrives, Winter Hallwinter is there to buy some black cloth. Rose notes that she used to work as a tailor's apprentice and Winter commissions Rose to make an outfit like Nevar Moor's—Rose even gives her the adventuring buddies discount. With new sewing supplies in hand, and information on where to get some plant dyes, Rose heads to Alderleaf Farm.

Rose asks Qelline Alderleaf for help sourcing plant dyes to help match her thread with her lavender wool cloth. Qelline runs into the house to grab something for Rose, which is when Rose notices Carp Alderleaf is there reading Volo's Guide. They get into a conversation about gnolls and Carp makes the connection that Rose and Riot are adventuring companions. Carp shares some of his notes and offers to read Rose excerpts from the book; Rose is interested in the Dark Sisterhood.

Volo's Guide notes that the Dark Sisterhood are hags. It goes on to say:"If you want to know a secret, you ask a hag. The trick lies in getting the truth out of her."Carp also mentions that Volo says things come in threes and asks Rose if her, Riot, and Nevar are a coven. He goes on to note that Master Elminster says hags hate to be in debt to someone who has done them a favor spontaneously and will return favors unexpectedly to them.

At this, Qelline returns with a spool of thread for Rose and the three have a short discussion about the contents of Carp's book.

Sorrow Pours Sorrow
Nevar Moor wakes up with a hangover and decides to head to the Sleeping Giant and runs into Lord Eric Merryweather there. She joins him at his table and partakes in some Many Cherries Wine with him. He asks her about the Instrument of Illusion she has, which encourages her to take it out and play it; black down feathers seemingly flutter down from the ceiling. She joins him for more wine to close out the night.

As Nevar goes around town, she notices that Winter Hallwinter is following closely behind. Nevar catches her as she grabs a stray feather that falls from Quoth and Nevar lets her keep it.

After a week of drinking, Nevar drunkenly decides to take on a quest. She has Quoth pick a random quest off the quest board in the town center and stumbles back to the inn.

Nevar wakes up the next morning with a clear head and is stopped by Sildar Hallwinter as she walks into town. Sildar asks if Nevar has seen Winter around town. He notes that she's been distant and dark lately; all of her bright clothes have been tossed to the side and has taken up black clothes and ribbons and talks of The Raven Queen. As they talk, Winter shows up in clothing and appearance very reminiscent of Nevar; she even tries to mimic Nevar's stance. Sildar is visibly uncomfortable. Before they depart, Winter rips a page out of her poetry journal and hands it to Nevar and then runs away. The poem reads:"My pain falls in darkness""Existence screams blackness""Sorrow pours sorrow""My heart awaits loneliness"At the end of the week, Nevar helps Winter pick out some black ribbons for her new style.

Nevar then returns to the Stonehill Inn when Quoth suddenly takes off into the dark. When she gets up to her room, there is a black ribbon tied to her door handle; the same type of ribbon that she woke up with earlier that week. When she walks into her room, there is a chill that fills the air and a black leather grimoire rests on her bed. It is obvious that The Raven Queen has been here and she has left Nevar The Book of Shadows.

PCs

 * Nevar Moor played by Essie Hollman
 * Riot Bonezerker played by Jen Vaughn
 * Rose Lao played by Meris Mullaley

NPCs

 * Carp Alderleaf
 * Davver Banik
 * Delsy
 * Lord Eric Merryweather
 * Grista, Dwarf
 * Qelline Alderleaf, Halfling
 * Sildar Hallwinter played by Brittni Liyanage
 * Winter Hallwinter

Visited

 * Crooked Forest
 * Blueleaf Grove
 * Halfway
 * Come Butte Inn
 * Phandalin
 * Alderleaf Farm
 * Barthen's Provisions
 * Sleeping Giant
 * Stonehill

Quotes

 * "I guess none of the rest of ya are famous, hey? Okay, see ya!" - Random Patron of the Sleeping Giant (15:20)
 * "Well, are you the hag?" - Riot Bonezerker (22:46)
 * "Are you quite certain? You seem rather ordinary." - Carp Alderleaf (69:01)

Trivia

 * This is the first episode where the Dames run into Delshad aka Delsy.